Election Officials Optimistic About Voter ID Law

Tennessee election officials say the small number of residents who didn't have proper identification during early voting indicates people are adjusting to a new law requiring a photo ID to vote, but others say the real test will be November’s general election. Tennessee's 12-day early voting period ended last Tuesday. Election Coordinator Mark Goins says during that time, there were more than 200,000 voters, and only 46 showed up without a photo ID. However, Vanderbilt University political science professor Bruce Oppenheimer says early voters are a bad sample of the general electorate because they don't accurately reflect voters that tend to vote in the general election. The measure has stirred much debate, with critics saying requirements to comply with the law are excessive and confusing.